Article June 10, 1911 Issue

In an issue of recent date, D. H. Talbert expresses...

Alfred Farlow

Indianapolis (Ind.) Star

In an issue of recent date, D. H. Talbert expresses agreement with the statement that if the medical fraternity fails to save certain persons "in the incipiency of their troubles, they cannot reasonably complain because Christian Science fails to rescue them in the more advanced and formidable stages of their disease." He adds that "only good would result under such circumstances," and that "any case healed under these circumstances points to the fact that such a person had been overdosing in medicine, or had been applying material help in a manner out of harmony with natural law, in which case Christian Science does help, because it changes the patient's thought and indirectly nature is given a chance."

In the light of such an admission one might well conclude that thousands of persons die every day from "overdosing in medicine," or the "applying of material help in a manner out of harmony with natural law," who might be saved if they would turn to Christian Science. Under such circumstances, it seems to us that the critic would better spend his time urging those who are failing to recover under medical practice to turn to Christian Science rather than to spend his time in the condemnation of Christian Science. The gentleman declares that the danger of Christian Science lies in "applying it without reserve to innocent children." Are not children quite as frequently "overdosed" as adults, and are they not quite as liable to the "application of material help in a manner out of harmony with natural law" as adults, since the same physician makes the application to the child that makes the application to the adult? The "innocency" of children is respected quite as much in Christian Science treatment as in medical treatment. Moreover, Christian Science has proved itself quite as effectual in the treatment of children as in the treatment of adults. The children of Christian Scientists are quite as healthy as those of non-Christian Scientists.

It is reasonable to assume that almost the entire population of the globe, especially those of recent generations, have been trained to depend upon material remedies of some sort, that is, some means less than God, as a remedy for sickness, and yet all material remedies have eventually failed utterly. Most of the world's population has passed away while struggling to recover health by the use of material remedies. Thus it is shown that in a sense the failure of medical practice has been universal, and surely such practice ought not to claim the sole guardianship of the public health and insist upon it that the public shall not experiment with new methods. It cannot be shown that the world is any the worse for the experiment with Christian Science, either in the treatment of adults or of children. There are historical points which would indicate that Christian Science has increased longevity. It has been stated repeatedly, in the medical records and in the public press, that during the past forty years longevity has increased perceptibly, and this time covers the period of Christian Science practice. Certainly this situation does not indicate that there is any cause for alarm as the result of Christian Science in the world, but on the contrary that its teaching has been a benefit.

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